Volker Wissing (51, FDP) has been Minister for Transport and Digital Affairs in the traffic light government for almost three months and he is already facing what is probably the greatest challenge of his term.
Instead of taking care of the traffic turnaround in Germany, Wissing suddenly has to ensure that aid supplies from Germany arrive in Ukraine, block German airspace for Russian planes and ensure security of supply in Germany. BILD am SONNTAG with a minister in crisis mode.
BILD am SONNTAG: Mr. Wissing, as Minister of Transport, what can you do to help the people of Ukraine?
VOLKER WISSING: “The Germans are shocked by Russia’s attack on Ukraine and are reacting with immense offers of help. I am doing everything I can to ensure that this aid also reaches Ukraine. Deutsche Bahn is currently collecting relief supplies on a large scale from producers and wholesalers throughout Germany, which are then assembled into container trains and transported by rail to the Ukraine. For this purpose, the DB created a network with the European railways in a very short time. The whole thing is not intended to be a one-off action, but we are using it to build a rail bridge that will help the people of Ukraine in the long term.”
What about the people fleeing the war?
Wissing: “The situation on the Polish-Ukrainian border is dramatic. Hundreds of thousands arrive in the border region, but can hardly be cared for. We help Poland bring refugees inland. Deutsche Bahn operates special trains here.”
What does the war mean for supplies?
Wissing: “More than 100,000 Ukrainians work in Poland in the logistics sector. A lot of them just got draft orders. It will be a Herculean task for Poland to keep the supply chains stable.”
Will that also be a problem for us?
Wissing: “When a country as big as Russia is hit with such heavy sanctions, it has an impact. The restrictions in the logistics area are significant, also for German companies. But the challenge of keeping supply chains stable in this situation is nothing compared to what people in Ukraine are going through right now.”
What does the closure of Russian airspace mean for us?
Wissing: “Restrictions in air traffic mean that fewer goods can be transported at once. Cargo planes from China now have to fly around Russia, which uses more kerosene, which in turn makes the plane heavier and reduces the leeway for the cargo. In the automotive industry, this has led to the first cuts in production. But I am very grateful that the entire German economy has great understanding for the sanctions and supports them as one. Peace and freedom are more important than economic interests.”
Can you guarantee that the Germans won’t be standing in front of empty supermarket shelves any time soon?
Wissing: “The supply of food and the objects that are needed in everyday life is secured. The supermarket shelves are full and at the moment there is no indication that this will change in the coming months. There is no reason to buy hamsters. The products that concern us are not food, but industrial products, i.e. raw materials and spare parts.”
The war will once again make fuel, heating and shopping drastically more expensive. Are you afraid that solidarity will then crumble?
Wissing: “No. The unity and determination in Germany and Europe is impressive and gives us incredible strength. We all have to stand together now. Politics, society, economy. Putin has challenged and attacked the free world and liberal democracy. We have to show what we can do. Our society is stronger than Putin’s totalitarian regime.”
Will there be relief to absorb the price increase?
Wissing: “If further measures are required in addition to the relief package that has already been decided, this government is able to act quickly.”
What does the war mean for the energy and transport transition in Germany?
Wissing: “Because of the war, our domestic political goals are not changing. The current situation is not at the expense of our energy and transport transition. We are sticking to our course of making Germany climate-neutral by 2045. This also applies to the automotive industry.”
Economics Minister Habeck has brought up the idea of allowing coal-fired power plants to run longer if there are gas supply bottlenecks. Do you agree with him?
Wissing: “The previous cooperation with Moscow in the energy sector has been fundamentally disrupted by the Russian aggression. However, we will not throw all strategies overboard. It stays the same: We are striving for climate neutrality, also in the automotive sector.”
Photo: Niels Starnick / BILD
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/wissing-mit-den-bams-reportern-burkhard-uhlenbroich-r–und-thomas-block-in-seine-ministerbuero-b3e4a632f71a46ae94eda36213465eeb -79360768/image/5.image.jpg”/> Wissing with the BamS reporters Burkhard Uhlenbroich (right) and Thomas Block in his ministerial officePhoto: Niels Starnick / BILD
Wouldn’t it be more climate-friendly to leave the remaining nuclear power plants connected to the grid longer instead of extending the lifespan of the coal-fired power plants?
Wissing: “No. Fundamental energy policy decisions cannot be made every four years. Germany decided to phase out nuclear power with an overwhelming majority. We have to stay on this course now.”
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants Ukraine to join the EU. A good idea?
Wissing: “We should do everything to help Ukraine to remain a freely democratic state in our community of values. However, EU accession is currently not on the agenda.”
Only former chancellor Gerhard Schröder remains loyal to Putin. Should you cut your references or at least freeze them?
Wissing: “I have zero sympathy for Gerhard Schröder’s statements about Vladimir Putin. In a constitutional state, however, one cannot deny his claims for this reason.”